Paint mixing receptacles



Feb. 13, 1962 A. A. DEDOES 3,021,118

PAINT MIXING RECEPTACLES Filed March 25, 1959 4 l INVENTdR ARNOLD A.13513035 ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice Patented Feb. 13, 19623,021,118 PAINT MIXING RECEPTACLES Arnold A. Dedoes, 2070 W. Eleven MileRoad, Berkley, Mich. Filed Mar. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 801,811 3 Claims. Cl.259-43 This invention relates to improvements in fluid mixing machinesand more particularly to a novel form of detachable cover device forapplication to the individual commercial receptacles or containersassociated with cabinet type mixing machines.

The operation of such commercial (paint or lacquer) mixing machines foruse in mixing paints and lacquers for example, enables the operator tostir several different liquids simultaneously and when it is desired tostir and mix several different colors it requires considerable handlingof the containers in and out of the machine. Heretofore difliculty hasbeen experienced in providing an eflicient and accessible cover whichshall conveniently replace the commercial covers for each of the severalcontainers while in the machine and facilitate fluid mixing and pouringand general usage of the fluid containers in and out of the machine.

One important object of the present invention is to provide a novel formof detachable cover attachment for association with a commercial fluidcontainer which shall be more desirable and eflicient in operation thansimilar devices heretofore proposed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover of the characterdesignated which may be made from a single metal die-casting operationand include a simplified and more efficient form of fluid pouring spout.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of containercover spout fluid cut-off valve and operating mechanism therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover mechanism of thecharacter designated including a spout closure and fluid cut-off valvemechanism which may be manually operated while handling the container tofacilitate pouring material from the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cover device includinga novel form of stirrer unit carried there by.

These and other objects of the invention will be more manifest from thefollowing specification and drawings and more particularly set forth inthe claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container cover and stirrerconstructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cover and spout mechanism showingthe spout valve partially open;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view in elevation of the cover and container shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the spout valve operatinglever shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional front view on line 55 of FIG. 3 of thespout valve and retaining guide therefor;

FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view of the agitator blade on line 66 ofFIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the can cover lock shown inFIG. 2.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, there is shown adome-shaped container closure cover 10 embodying the invention andadapted for use with a conventional type of commercial paint canadaptable for use in association with a fluid mixing mechanism of theusual type well known in the art. The cover 10 is preferably made ofrelatively heavy die-cast metal and is adapted to replace the commercialcan cover while the contents are being stirred in the machine. Thiscover includes a peripheral depending edge flange 12 adapted to fitwithin a top groove 13 of the standard paint can when the commercial cancover is removed to permit application of the mixer head 10 with itsassociated parts hereinafter more fully described. The cover is madedome-shaped and of diecast metal to provide a more sturdy constructionof the required strength to withstand the rough usage to which suchcovers are continuously subjected during the normal operation thereof instirring, mixing, pouring, and blending fluent materials.

Formed as an integral part of the die-cast cover is a spout member 14substantially within the side limits of the can and which is closed by ahorizontally disposed flat metal sliding closure valve member 15. Thisclosure is actuated by a connecting lever 16 which is pivotally retainedin a V shaped recess 17 formed integrally in the cover 10 as hereinaftermore fully described. The valve plate 15 is freely guided in its slidingmovement by the projecting spout edges 14'l4. The operating lever 16shown in FIGURE 4 is made from a heavy sheet metal stamping and includesa rearwardly and upwardly extending thumb engaging portion 18 for moreconvenient manipulation while pouring fluid from the can. This leveralso includes a central body portion 19, a curved stuck-up valve plateengaging portion 20 and downwardly struck portions 21-21 which form thepivotal operating support for the lever at the bottom of the cover Vshaped depression 17. The portions 21-21 are relatively long and thusprovide a very efficient valve operating lever. The valve plate member15 includes a longitudinal slot 22 formed therein to slidably engage thehead of a retaining screw 23 mounted in the top surface of a bearingblock 24 also formed as an integral part of the cover 10. The bearingblock 24 also forms a bearing support for the stirrer mechanismhereinafter described, as well as a closure limit stop 26 for themovement of the spout valve plate 15 and lever 20 as shown in FIGURE 3.It will be observed that the spout valve plate 15 is supported andfreely guided at the front end by the spout edges 14'14 and at the rearend portion by the top surface of the bearing block 24, the slot 22 andscrew 23. The rear extremity of the plate 15 adjacent the bearing block24 includes a downwardly extending flange 25 for edge contact engagementwith the manual operating lever projection 20. The valve plate 15maintains the spout closed by means of a coil spring loop 27 engaging anupstanding eyelet projection 28 formed in the cover 10 and a pair ofdownwardly extending tongue members 29-29 struck from the plate 15 asshown in FIGURES 3 and 5. It will be noted that the spring 27 holds thevalve spring 27 tightly in a downwardly direction as well as tightly ina horizontal sliding direction against the spout edges and the bearingstop 26.

The cover 10 with its central bearing 24 retains in position thecontainer agitator mechanism which includes a vertical shaft 30 with atop external drive coupling member 31 and a lower agitation member 32.The coupling member 31 includes a hub having a transverse bar portion 33and upwardly extending vertical end portions 34--34 to freely engage afreely swinging and pivotally mounted cooperating plate member 35 whichforms a part of the power drive mechanism, not shown. The coupling 31 isremovably-'connected to the shaft 30 by a set screw 36 when it isdesired to remove and clean the valve plate 15 whenever necessary.

The agitator member 32 is formed from a heavy sheet metal stamping anddesigned as shown in FIGURE 6 to produce a most effective and eflicientstirring operation while being rotated in the container. This agitatoris preferably rectangular in shape and divided at its mid portion by avertical groove to fit the shaft 30 and be integrally 3 secured theretoby spot welding as indicated by the numerals 37--37. It will be notedthat one vertical side section of the stirrer plate 32 is a solid plateand provided with deflected top and bottom end portions 38'-39 bothinclined in the same direction. The other section of the stirrer plateis perforated by a top group of transverse louvers 40-40 bent outwardlyin one direction at the top half of the stirrer and a bottom set oflouvers 41-41 bent from the same side of the plate body but in theopposite direction. From the above arrangement it will be noted that inthe construction of the stirrer member 32, the one solid plane sideproduces bodily movement of the fluid engaged thereby while the sidewith the louvers produces a counter directional or turbulent movement ofthe fluid engaging that portion of the stirrer body and thus eifectuatesthe desired intimate mixing of the fluid. The mixing is further aided bythe fact that the top and bottom edges 4243 of the perforated sectionare inclined parallel to louvers 40 and 41 so as to force fluid throughassociated openings 40' and 41 respectively. A further feature of thisnovel stirrer arrangement is that it may be made from a single metalstamping operation and thus further reduce production costs to aminimum.

The cover is clamped in place by a pair of side clamps 4444 mounted onopposite sides of the cover and manipulated in suitable cast bearings45-45 formed integral with the cover and only one will be described indetail as shown in FIGURE 7. Each clamp includes a vertical shaft 46extending through a cover bearing 45, an operating handle 47 rigidlysecured at the top thereof and a cam member 48 secured to the lowerextremity of the shaft 46. The cam 48 has an inclined surface 49 adaptedto engage under the cam rim 13 and securely hold the cover 10 in fluidtight engagement with the can to which it may be attached. The lever 47and cam 48 are held in yieldable compressed tension relative to thecover 10 and can 11 by means of a leaf spring 50 having its free endssupported in spaced apart projections 5151 cast integrally with thecover 10. The arrangement is such that spring 50 holds the parts inreadiness to clamp the cover to the can by a half turn and release thesame by a reverse movement thereof. This sturdy and simplified yieldablelocking arrangement provides a clamp which is most effective inoperation and particularly easy to clean and keep free of the usualcontamination present in devices of this kind.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of my invention, changesmay be made therein without depart ing from the invention defined in theclaims.

What I claim is: i

1. In a receptacle cover attachment for use with a receptacle in a fluidmixing machine, a removable die-cast closure member having rim portionsfor engaging and sealing the top edge of the receptacle, saidclosureincluding a substantially V-shaped spout member formed integrallywith said closure and extending above the same,

said spout having a top horizontal pouring edge, a vertically disposedagitator shaft bearing member formed centrally of the closure member, ahorizontal surface formed at the top portion of said bearing and inplanar relation to said horizontal spout edge, an agitator shaftextending through said bearing, a horizontally disposed slidable closureplate for the spout opening and having a substantially straight forwardend edge for engaging the edges of said spout, guide means for saidspout closure plate including a longitudinally disposed slot formed insaid closure plate and straddling said agitator shaft, and upwardlyextending flanges formed on the opposite side edges of said spout, saidbearing surface additionally guiding and supporting the rear portion ofsaid closure plate by contact therewith, means for limiting the forwardmovement of the closure plate including the agitator shaft bearing, theshaft extending through the bearing and the plate slot, a manuallyoperated lever pivotally mounted on said receptacle closure adjacent tosaid bearing, and means at one end of the lever for engaging the rearend of the spout closure plate to operate the same in contact relationwith the spout edges and the bearing surface.

2. A receptacle cover attachment of the character described in claim 1'including yieldable means for maintaining the spout closure plate inclosed position and in contact with the'manually operated lever, asubstantially V- shaped recess formed in the closure member, means atone end of the lever projecting into said recess and forming a pivotpoint for said lever and means at the same end of said lever for freelyengaging said spout plate to operate the same.

3. A receptacle cover attachment of the character de: scribed in claim 1including yieldable means for maintaining the spout closure plate inclosed position and in contact with the manually operated lever, asubstantially V-shaped recess formed in the closure member, a projectionformed at one end of the lever and extending into the recess to form apivot point for said lever, a flange member formed on said spout plateend adjacent to said shaft bearing and an upwardly extending end portionof said lever for freely engaging the spout plate flange member tooperate the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,839,082 Burgard Dec. 29, 1931 2,154,581 Pershall Apr. 18, 19392,257,238 Hexter Sept. 30, 1941 2,312,584 Peterson Mar. 2, 19432,392,731 Fox Ian. 8, 1946 2,469,649 Hunter et al May 10, 1949 2,555,459Seufer June 5, 1951 2,585,334 McCauley Feb. 12, 1952 2,665,038 FowlerJan. 5, 1954 2,802,649 Stockton Aug. 13, 1957

